In volume four of the Legion Archives you can see certain hints of the DC Comics to come. Most of the material here is rooted in DC's Silver Age traditions: single issue stories, minimal characterization, a modest art style. And yet there are definite indications that the series was gradually changing. One character's status quo is dramatically altered. Two-part stories start to become more common. Subplots from previous issues crop up. A recurring villain returns once again, and two more are introduced. The result is a mixture of the established DC style with the more innovative elements that were coming into use in superhero stories around this time. And even the more conventional material is enjoyable. Several of the stories have a very space opera-ish feel to them, no surprise considering they were written by pulp sci-fi author Edmond Hamilton. There is also humor, as seen in the Legion's encounter with their Bizarro duplicates, and in the debut of the extremely oddball Insect Queen. Artwise, John Forte and Jim Mooney's pencils may lack a certain sophistication, but they definitely possess strong storytelling. Forte also adds a certain stylish flair to his depictions of both strange alien beasts and beautiful women. All in all, the material here is interesting and entertaining. It's not deep or terribly innovative, but it is a lot of fun.